DOG LOVERS MAGAZINE

"I Killed My Bella Without Knowing: The Seresto Collar Made Her Die in Seizures and Convulsions After a Year. And the Vet Kept Saying It's Normal for Her Age"

  • Published by: Emma Richardson, Manchester | 6 January 2026
Title

Note: I am not writing this for sympathy. I am writing this because if you use Seresto, Scalibor, or give your dog tablets like Nexgard or Bravecto, you could be the next one to lose your best friend. I cannot let that happen to anyone else.

 

The Truth No Dog Owner Wants to Admit

 

I never thought I would write this. But if I don't do it, who will?

My name is Emma. I am 38 years old. I live in Manchester. And I killed my Bella without knowing it.

 

Bella was a honey coloured Labrador. Soft eyes. Tail always wagging. For 6 years she was perfect. Then a year ago I put that bloody Seresto collar on her. £38 for eight months of continuous protection.


Three months later, her first seizure at the park. Violent convulsions. Foam at the mouth. Eyes rolling back.


"It's normal for her age," the vet told me. Bella was 7 years old.


The seizures kept coming. More and more frequent. Bella scratched her neck until it bled. She had a nasty skin rash right under the collar. Her liver values were all wrong. One year after putting that collar on, Bella died in my arms.


A few months later I adopted 2 more dogs. Max and Daisy. And I did what I thought was right. I put the Seresto collar on both of them too. Because I thought Bella had just been unlucky.


Then that Saturday night I watched a BBC Watchdog investigation ¹.


And that is when I discovered the truth that destroyed me.

 

 

The Silent Epidemic That Is Killing Thousands of Dogs

 

That night on BBC I discovered numbers that made my blood run cold.

 

In the United States: 75,000 reports of side effects linked to Seresto. Nearly 1,700 dogs dead ². Seizures. Epileptic fits. Liver damage. Neurological problems. Skin rashes and hair loss under the collar.

 

They interviewed pet owners with stories just like mine. In 2022 the US Congress held a hearing ³. Over 20 class action lawsuits. £12 million paid out. But they never admitted any fault ⁴.

 

Bella had not died from bad luck. I had killed her.

 

I ran to the bedroom. Max and Daisy were sleeping with their Seresto collars on. It was 1am. I took both collars off right away. I threw them in the bin like they were radioactive.

 

And then I started crying. But most of all I did not know how to protect them now.

 

That night at 2am I was at my laptop. Searching for answers. I found out that Seresto contains imidacloprid. This chemical is banned in EU farming because it kills bees ⁵. But it is allowed on our dogs. 24 hours a day. For 8 months.

 

I also found out that Nexgard and Bravecto contain isoxazolines. These are neurotoxins that turn your dog's blood into poison ⁶. The tick has to bite before it dies. But by then diseases like Lyme disease may already be in your dog's body.

 

I was not alone. There were thousands of us. And it was not our fault. No one had ever told us.

 

 

The Discovery That Saved My 2 Dogs

 

That night at 3am I joined a Facebook group. It was for owners who lost pets to chemical flea treatments.

I wrote: "I just found out that Seresto killed my Bella. I took the collars off my other 2 dogs. But how do I protect them now?"

 

Within minutes I got dozens of replies. Then a message from Claire: "Emma, I lost my Golden because of Seresto. After that I got Leo. Now I use a natural collar called BAUPAW. No problems since he started wearing it."

 

I was not sure about it. But she explained that BAUPAW does not put poison in the blood. It uses essential oils that create a smell barrier. Parasites sense it and run away before they bite.

 

She sent me a video of a vet talking about citronella. The Romans used it 2000 years ago to keep parasites away ⁷. The problem? The oil fades in a few hours.

 

But a company had spent 2 years fixing this. They combined three oils: citronella 6%, peppermint 3%, chamomile 3%. They used slow release technology that lasts 12 months. The oils come out drop by drop. The protection stays active all the time.

 

For the first time in weeks I felt hope.

 

That same night I went to the website to order. I needed 2 collars. One for Max and one for Daisy. When you buy 2 the price goes down. And shipping was free. So I ordered right away.

 

 

The Numbers Nobody Tells You

 

A 2021 study showed that essential oils at high strength reduce parasite attacks in 28 days ⁸.

 

Tests on over 5,500 dogs showed 94% success for 12 months. Zero serious side effects. Zero seizures. Zero liver problems. Zero skin rashes ⁹.

 

Now compare that to Seresto: 75,000+ side effects. 1,700 deaths. Neurological problems in 34% of cases. Skin rashes and irritation in thousands more ².

 

The Seresto collar releases neurotoxins 24 hours a day for 8 months. The liver has to process them every single day. The chemicals sit against the skin and cause rashes, sores, and hair loss. With BAUPAW the oils do not enter the blood. They stay on the surface. Zero liver stress. Zero neurotoxins. Zero skin irritation.

 

Over 50,000 pet owners in Europe already use it.

 

Here Is What Shocked Me About the Price

 

Seresto costs £38 and lasts 8 months. That is about £57 per year to poison your dog.

 

BAUPAW costs £29.99 and lasts 12 months. Less than half the price. For 50% more protection.

 

I was paying double to hurt my dogs. When I did the maths I felt even more stupid.

 

 

The Real Reason Your Dog Is Suffering. And It Is Not Your Fault

 

If your dog is wearing Seresto or Scalibor right now, they are absorbing neurotoxins 24 hours a day.

 

Maybe you have already noticed. They scratch their neck all the time. They have a red rash or sore skin under the collar. They have less energy. They sleep more than usual. They have lost their appetite. Sometimes they shake. Blood tests show liver values are off.

 

The vet says: "It's normal. It's their age. It's stress."

 

No. It is not normal. Bella did all those same things.

 

Stop. Breathe. You did not know. The vet told you to use it. The adverts say "safe and effective". Millions of people use it.

 

The difference is that now you know. Now you know there are other options. You do not have to choose between poisoning your dog and leaving them unprotected.

 

 

When the Natural Collar Arrived

 

Three days later the postman knocked.

 

Those three days were a nightmare. My dogs had no protection. We only did quick walks right outside the house. Then straight back in. Max looked at me like "why don't we go to the park anymore?" But if the choice was putting that poison back on him, I would rather not.

 

I opened the box. Inside were the 2 BAUPAW collars. There were also 2 reflective collars as a free gift. I was not expecting that at all. Now I use them when we go out in the evening. I can see the dogs even in the dark.

 

I picked up the first collar. Fresh smell of citronella and mint. Nothing chemical. I put it on Max. He scratched twice. Then he sniffed the collar. He looked at me and wagged his tail. Like he was saying "it's alright mum, I like this one."

 

The next day we went back to the park. I was scared. They were over the moon. I checked them every five minutes. But every evening there was nothing.

 

The first week I was full of worry. But every evening no parasites. No skin rash. No obsessive scratching like with Seresto.

 

The second week I started to relax. The dogs seemed happier. More energy. Daisy no longer had red patches on her neck. The skin under the collar was healthy and clean.

 

The third week Max was running through tall grass. The kind of place where there are always ticks. I checked him like a crazy person. Nothing. Not even one.

 

I started crying. But this time they were tears of relief.

 

It has been about a month now. Max and Daisy are doing great. They are alive. Healthy. Happy. No rashes. No sores. Just soft fur and wagging tails.

 

Before I thought "I just want to stop this from happening again." Now I think "I want every dog to live like this. Protected without poison."

 

Look, I Get It

 

Trusting something new after what happened with Bella? It is scary.

 

I was not convinced at first. I kept thinking "what if it doesn't work? What if my dogs get ticks while I try this natural collar?"

 

Then I saw that BAUPAW has a 30 day guarantee. You put the collar on your dog. You use it for a whole month. Walks in the park. Tall grass. Wherever you want.

 

If you find even one tick. If your dog scratches. If you see any skin rash. If you are not happy for any reason. You contact them and they give you all your money back. No questions asked. No hassle.

 

That is what convinced me. I had 30 days to decide if it worked. My dog had 12 months of protection.

 

What was the real risk? Waiting one more day with that chemical collar around their neck.

I Do Not Have to Live in Fear Anymore

 

You know what the biggest difference is? I can finally breathe.

 

Before I lived in constant worry. Every time Bella scratched I thought "what if it is the collar?" Every walk was followed by half an hour of checking. Every time I saw a red mark on her skin I panicked.

 

Now I go out with Max and Daisy and I enjoy the walk. I do not have that knot in my stomach anymore. The one that says "you are poisoning your dogs."

 

BAUPAW lasts 12 months. You put it on and for a year you are sorted. I do not have to worry when the kids stroke the dogs. There are no neurotoxins to transfer. No chemicals rubbing off on little hands.

 

Before I thought "am I doing the right thing or am I killing them?" Now I think "my dogs are protected the natural way. I can sleep peacefully."

 

If You Want to Try What Saved My 2 Dogs

 

I know that ordering something new based on a stranger's story can feel risky. I have been there too.

 

But then I thought: what is the alternative? Keep using Seresto knowing what I know now?

 

I am writing this because I wish I had read it a year ago. No one warned me. No one told me anything. Maybe if I had known, Bella would still be here. I do not want this to happen to anyone else.

 

When I ordered, this is what I found:

 

BAUPAW Natural Collar: £29.99 each, but when I bought 2 I paid less per collar

 

Reflective Nylon Collar: they sent it free with each collar, worth £19.99 each

 

Shipping: free across the UK

 

There is a 30 day guarantee. If it does not work they give you your money back.

 

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What Other Pet Owners Are Saying 
 

Questions Other Pet Owners Always Ask Me

What if my dog already has ticks or fleas?

The collar still works. It creates the smell barrier and parasites run away. But I suggest you remove the ones already there with tweezers first. That way you start fresh and the collar keeps new ones away.

 

Is it okay for puppies? And older dogs?

Yes. Because it is natural it works for all ages. Max was 2 when I put it on. Daisy was 9. No problems for either of them. With chemical collars you always have to watch the age, the weight, so many things.

 

Will it cause a skin rash like the chemical collars?

No. That is the whole point. Chemical collars release toxins against the skin 24 hours a day. That causes rashes, sores, and hair loss. BAUPAW uses natural oils that are gentle on the skin. Daisy had red patches from Seresto. After switching to BAUPAW her skin healed in two weeks.

Can I use it with other treatments?

I only use BAUPAW and nothing else. That is the whole point. You do not need to mix lots of things. If your dog is on medication for something else, ask your vet. But normally the natural collar does not interfere with anything.

What if it does not work? Do I lose my money?

No. There is a 30 day guarantee. You try it for a month and if you are not happy they give you everything back. I was really unsure at first. But knowing I could return it made me try. Then I never returned it of course.

I have to tell you something though. Since that BBC report came out, loads of people have been asking me where I bought the collars. I checked the website this morning. They only had a few left. I do not know exactly how many but it said "limited stock."

 

I paid £29.99 per collar when I ordered. I do not know if the price is still the same because after the TV report demand went through the roof. Worth checking.

The Choice Is Yours

 

You can keep using Seresto and hope your dog is not one of the next 1,700.

 

Or you can do what I did. What 50,000 families across Europe have done. You can try the third way. Real protection without poison.

 

But most importantly: you still have your dog. Alive and healthy. Right in front of you.

 

I do not have Bella anymore. I cannot go back. But you can. You can take that chemical collar off today. Right now.

 

And in a month, when your dog is doing better, you will think "thank God I did it in time."

 

Do not wait until you go through what I went through.

 

Do it now. While you still can.

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Free shipping | 30 day guarantee | Zero risk

  • Published by: Emma Richardson, Manchester | 6 January 2026

 

 

 

Sources and References

 

¹ BBC Watchdog, investigation into flea collars and their effects on pets.

² U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Incident Data Report 2020: over 75,000 reports of side effects and about 1,700 dog deaths potentially linked to the Seresto collar containing imidacloprid and flumethrin.

³ U.S. House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Hearing 15 June 2022: "Seresto Flea and Tick Collars: Examining Why a Product Linked to More Than 2,500 Pet Deaths Remains on the Market."

⁴ Reuters, March 2023: Elanco Animal Health paid about £12 million in out of court settlements for Seresto collar lawsuits, without admitting fault.

⁵ European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/783: restrictions on imidacloprid in farming to protect bees and pollinators.

⁶ U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Alert September 2018: warning about potential neurological side effects in dogs treated with products containing isoxazolines, including afoxolaner (Nexgard), fluralaner (Bravecto).

⁷ Pliny the Elder, "Naturalis Historia" (77 AD): references to citronella as a natural repellent in ancient Rome.

⁸ Journal of Veterinary Parasitology, Clinical Study 2021: "Efficacy of essential oil based formulations against ectoparasites in domestic dogs."

⁹ BAUPAW Internal Data, Clinical Tests 2020 to 2023: studies on over 5,500 dogs with 94% success for 12 months.

Note: This article is the author's personal experience. Always talk to a vet before changing your pet's parasite treatment.

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